וַיָּשׁ֥וּבוּ הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים אֵלָ֑יו וַיֹּ֥אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מַה־זֶּ֥ה שַׁבְתֶּֽם׃
And the messengers returned to him, and he said to them, “What is this that you have returned?”
Morphology
- וַיָּשׁ֥וּבוּ (va-yashuvu) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine plural; Translation: “And they returned”; Notes: Indicates the sudden or early return of the messengers.
- הַמַּלְאָכִ֖ים (ha-malʾakhim) – Root: מלאך (malʾakh); Form: Definite noun masculine plural; Translation: “the messengers”; Notes: Refers to those sent by the king to inquire.
- אֵלָ֑יו (elav) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine singular suffix; Translation: “to him”; Notes: Refers to the king of Shomeron.
- וַיֹּ֥אמֶר (va-yomer) – Root: אמר (ʾamar); Form: Qal wayyiqtol (narrative past) 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “And he said”; Notes: Introduces a direct question from the king.
- אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם (alehem) – Root: אל (ʾel); Form: Preposition + 3rd person masculine plural suffix; Translation: “to them”; Notes: Refers to the messengers who returned.
- מַה־זֶּ֥ה (mah-zeh) – Root: מה + זה (mah + zeh); Form: Interrogative pronoun + demonstrative pronoun masculine singular; Translation: “What is this”; Notes: Indicates surprise or interrogation.
- שַׁבְתֶּֽם (shavtem) – Root: שׁוב (shuv); Form: Qal perfect 2nd person masculine plural; Translation: “you returned”; Notes: Emphasizes the act of coming back prematurely or unexpectedly.